The Pregnant Father

It is very important that the father be involved with the pregnancy as much as possible. All of the attention during a pregnancy is usually placed with the mother, and then the newborn baby. It is easy and unfortunately quite common to forget all about the father. The father will have many fears which can be laid to rest by having him ask questions and being an integral part of the pregnancy. The father's typical fears will include:

• Feeling neglected
• Fear of sex
• Reacting to his wife's mood swings
• Anxiety over both her health and the baby's
• His wife's changes in her figure
• How good of a father will he be?

There are simple things a father can do to help alleviate these fears. These include:

• Both mother and father being a "team"
• Talk openly and express your hopes and fears
• The father should see the obstetrician/midwife as often as possible
• He should be at all ultrasounds or amniocentesis
• He should help with the pregnancy by watching what he eats and thinking healthy
• He should educate himself about pregnancy and childbirth

Remember, both of you are a team, a family. Grow together and learn together. This should be an exceptionally positive experience for both mother and father.

| TNPC Home | ParenTalk | Articles about Pregnancy | Comments for TNPC |